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There is nothing you need to be doing now,
And nowhere you need to go.
Close your eyes and feel yourself sink into the support beneath you and let all the worries of the day drift away.
This is your time and your space.
Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out with a long sigh.
There is nothing you need to be doing now,
And nowhere you need to go.
Happy listening.
Chapter 21 The Parting Now,
I had lived in this happy place three years,
But sad changes were about to come over us.
We heard from time to time our mistress was ill.
The doctor was often at the house and the master looked grave and anxious.
We heard she must leave her home at once and go to a warm country for two or three years.
The news fell upon the household like a tolling of a death bell.
Everybody was sorry,
But the master began directly to make arrangements for breaking up his establishment and leaving England.
We used to hear it talked about in our stable,
Indeed nothing else was talked about.
John went about his work silent and sad,
And Jo scarcely whistled.
There was a great deal of coming and going,
And Ginger and I had full work.
The first of the party who went were Miss Jessie and Flora with their governess.
They came to bid us goodbye,
And they hugged poor Merrylegs like an old friend.
Indeed he was.
Then we heard what had been arranged for us.
Master had sold Ginger and me to his old friend,
An earl.
He thought we should have a good place there.
Merrylegs he had given to the vicar who was wanting a pony for Mrs.
Blomfield,
But it was on the condition he should never be sold,
And that when he was past work he should be shot and buried.
Jo was engaged to take care of him and to help in the house,
So I thought that Merrylegs was well off.
John had the offer of several good places,
But he said he should wait a little and look around.
The evening before they left,
The master came to the stable to give some directions and to give his horses the last pat.
He seemed very low-spirited.
I knew that by his voice.
I believe we horses can tell more by the voice than many men can.
Have you decided what to do,
John?
He said.
I find you've not accepted either of those offers.
No,
Sir,
I've made up my mind if I could get a situation with some first-rate cult breaker and horse trainer,
It might be the right thing for me.
Many young animals are frightened and spoiled by wrong treatment,
And that need not be the case if the right man took them in hand.
I always get on well with horses.
If I could help some of them to a fair start,
I should feel as if I was doing some good.
What do you think of it,
Sir?
I don't know a man anywhere,
Said master,
That I should think so suitable for it as yourself.
You understand horses and somehow they understand you.
In time you might set up for yourself,
You know.
I think you couldn't do better.
If in any way I can help you,
John,
Write to me,
Won't you?
And I shall speak to my agent in London and leave your character with him.
Master gave John the name and address and he thanked him for his long and faithful service.
But that was all too much for John.
Praise,
Sir,
I can't bear it.
You and my dear mistress have done so much for me.
I could never repay you.
But we shall never forget you,
Sir.
And please,
God,
We may someday see mistress back again like her old self.
We must keep up hope,
Sir.
Master gave John his hand but he did not speak and they both left the stable.
At last the sad day had come.
The footman and the heavy luggage had gone off the day before and there was only master and the mistress and her maid left.
Ginger and I brought the carriage up to the hall door for the last time.
Then the servants brought out the cushions and rugs and many other things.
And when we were all arranged,
Master came down the steps carrying the mistress in his arms.
She did look very frail and we were worried about her.
I was on the side next to the house and I could see all that went on when he placed her carefully in the carriage while the house servants stood around crying.
It was a very sad day for master and mistress and everyone concerned.
Goodbye again,
He said.
We shall not forget any of you.
And he got in and said,
Drive on,
John.
Then Joe jumped up and we trotted slowly through the park and through the village where the people were standing at their doors to have a last look and to say,
God bless them.
When we reached the railway station,
I think mistress walked from the carriage to the waiting room.
I heard her say in her own sweet voice,
Goodbye John,
God bless you.
And I felt the rain twitch,
But John made no answer.
Perhaps he could not speak.
We were some time waiting as Joe took the things out of the carriage and John called him to stand by us while he went onto the platform.
Poor Joe stood so close up to our heads so that nobody could see his tears.
And then at last the train came puffing up into the station and two or three minutes more and the doors were slammed too.
It was so busy on that platform with people coming and going,
The guard whistling and the huge puffs of steam rising high up into the air.
The guard was a surly man,
But he was very good at his job.
And no sooner were the doors shut than the train started to move.
Ginger and I stood and watched as slowly the train glided away,
Leaving behind it only clouds of white smoke and some very heavy hearts.
It was some time before John came back.
He stood on the platform waiting until the train was quite out of sight.
We shall never see her again,
He said,
Never.
I think he might have been talking about the mistress,
But I was not sure.
All we knew was John was sadder than we had ever seen him before.
Before long,
He took up the reins again and mounted the box.
Then,
Stealing a glance at Joe,
We drove slowly home.
Over the tall bridge,
Past the low wooden buildings,
Past the river,
Past those hills and buildings we knew so well.
Along the skirts of a wood where the great branches swayed about.
Past the huge oak trees,
Back to the place we had lived happily for so long.
Only the very next day we would be gone from this place and it would no longer be our home.
